Heating apparatus



w my Il' L lll Dec. 30, 1941-. P, FRANTZ 2,267,905

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Dec,Y 4, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 wir INVENTOR.' 4 Il|| BY: eZ-@f' araZz'v l i ATTORNEY.-

Dec. 30, 1941. PQFRANTZ HEATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 1939 3 Shee'cs-Shee'fl 2 5 -iw JE 2; E0

I INVENTOR. Feier rzzz uba/am M07 55 ATTORNEY De@ 3o, 1941'.

P. FRANTVZ HEATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4, 1939y 3 sheets-sheet 5 ]Ueir ATTORNY. l

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl HEATING APPARATUS Peter Frantz, Sterling, Ill.

Application December 4, 1939, -Serial No.' 307,407 22 claims. (ci. 126.410)

This invention relates to heating apparatus, for heating houses and buildings, and more particularly to hot air heating systems for this purpose.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction ,and arrangement whereby the incoming cold air, in effect, meets the outgoing and more or less spent gases and products of combustion, so that any heat left in said gases is absorbed by the incoming cold air, thereby to reduce or minimize lthe temperature in the stack or chimney ofthe building, and thus reduce the consumption of fuel and increase the Aeiiliciency of the apparatus.

It is also an object to provide certain details of construction andfeatures and combinations tending to increase the general efficiency will be understood that any sort of fuel can be employed, with any kind of burner that is suitable for the purpose, but in said 4drawings a chamber 5 is provided, and an oil burner 6, of any suitable or desired character, is enclosed in said chamber to discharge the flame thereof upwardly into the combustion chamber 1 above, this combustion chamber being .preferably lined with lclay or firebrick or other heat-resisting material. To feed air to the fan of said burner, louvres 8 may be provided in the side wall of the casing, asV shown more clearly in Fig. 8 of th drawings. k

'Ihe heat absorption instrumentalities comprise the cylindrical upper header 9, being of any suitable or desired material, having slots I0 in the lower side thereof, it being observed that' these slots will feed the hot gases and prodand desirability of a hot air heating system of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the inventionfconsists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accom- 'panying drawings, in whichbetween the at sections.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the two plates or halves of one of said hollow sections.

Figi 4 is a perspective showing the two plates secured together at their edges.

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary section of a portion of one of the hollow sections. y

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the lower or ofi-take header.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged vertical section on line 'L -'I in Fig. 1`of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8--8 in Fig. 7 of the drawings. l,

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9 in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a rectangular casing I of sheet metal or any other suitable or desired material. As shown, this casing has a cold air inlet 2 at the top thereof, and also has a hot air outlet 3 at said top, and the side of the casing has a stack'or chimney 4 thatcarries off the more or less spent gases and products of combustion.

ucts of combustionto the upper ends ,of the hollow, flat sections II, andi from the latter the more or less spent gases and products of combustion will be discharged through the lower header I2 into the said stack or chimney 4 previously mentioned. To receive the upper header 9, the upper edge of each hollow section I'I is provided with a notch I3, to the edges of which latter the header is welded or otherwise secured. Each section II has its lower corner portion provided with a notch It, and the latter has its edges welded or otherwise secured to the edges of the slots I5 in the bottom or lower header I2 previously mentioned. Thus, the heatabsorption unit comprises an upper inlet header, a plurality of hollow, flat sections spaced apart, and a lower or outlet header, all preferably formed and constructed as shown in the drawwelded or otherwise sealed together at I1, and

the edges of the hollow sections may be sealed at I8 in a suitable or desired manner.

For the purpose of forcing the cold air up wardly between `the sections Il, a suitable fan or blower I9 may be provided, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, to blow the cold air into the chamber 20, from which latter the air is then free to rise between the hollow sections II pre# viously described, as indicated in Figs'. 7 and 9 of the drawings, it being observed that the air that has been heated between the sections II passes upwardly at opposite sides of the cylindrical header 9, .which latter is the hottest por- For the broader purposes of the invention, it tion of the heat absorption instrumentallties, as

it receives the flame directly from the burner.

In this way, obviously, the sections II and otherportions of the heat absorption unit can be so proportioned that practically all of the heat will be absorbed before or at the time that the gases and products of combustion reach the bottom or lowest point of said unit. That is practically true, and if the gases and products of combustion. are still hot .or fairly warm by the time'they reach the bottom of the heat absorption unit, such heat will be immediately absorbed by the cold air in the chamber 20 below the unit. In this way, and by havingy the incoming cold air practically impinge on the outgoing gases and products of combustion, the temperature in the stack or chimney 4 is greatly reduced, with the result that less fuel is consumed for the heating of any given space in ia. house or building. In addition, more efficient heating is obtained by causing the outgoing hot air to pass the top or hottest portion of the heating unit, instead of having the incoming cold air impinge directly upon the said hottest 4portion of the heat absorption unit. And, of course, the speed of the fan I9 will be a factor in the situation, for by increasing its speed, there will be less likelihood of any heat beingleft in the gases or products of combustion by the time they reach the stack or chimney or other outlet therefor.

As the sections I I do not circumferentially enclose the header 9, or the header I2, the work and expense of assembling the parts is'substantially less, and there are other advantages as well v i While the uid inlet header 9 may be-of any V suitable or desired shape, it is practically cylindrical except for its under side, which latter is preferably shaped to t into the wide V-shaped notches I3 previously described. Also, while the outlet header I2 may be of any suitable or desired shape, it is preferably rectangular, with its inside upper corner portion set into the notches Il previously mentioned. 'I'hus, in this way, the upper header 9 is located centrally of the heat exchange unit thus formed, but the lower header I2 is preferally offset to one side of said unit, as shown in the drawings, but may be placed at any point along the bottom edges of sections II of said unit.

It is important to observe that the imperforate tp walls and side walls of the header 9 serve as a super-heater to intensely heat the air immediately before it escapes from the heating apparatus. Again, it is importantthat the burner or heating element is not inside theunit shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and hence that the liability of any portion of the unit burning out is 1 greatly minimized, if not entirely prevented. In

addition, the bottom of the header I2 is imperforate, and' each header is rigid and continuous from end-to end andthe two parallel -headers serve as the only means for rigidly connecting the vertical hollow members I I together -to form a structural unit which can be installed as'such in the casing of the apparatus. Again, it should be observed that the V-formation of the slotted bottom of the header 9, and the V-iormation of the notches I3, tends to insure accuracy in the assembling together of the header and the hollow members II, as such formation prevents the header 9 from rotating about its axis -before it The same also is true of the bottom header, in the fastening thereof to the lower portions of the hollow vertical members. Thus, the two headers and the hollow vetical members fit accurately together and can be welded or otherwise fastened together at their edges, with assurance of perfect accuracy of registration as between the slots in the headers and the inlet and ou let notches of the vertical hollow members that/are spaced apart to permit the air to pass upwardly between them.

Thus the hollow sections II are not connected I together before the headers 9 and I2 are weldedbetween them extends practically for the full area y of each section, the two plates being -connected only at their extreme outer edges, and as each plate is preferably smooth and fiat it follows that these plates may be pressed into form from sheet metal in Va comparatively inexpensive manner. The header I2 bulges horizontallyand downwardly from the lower corners of the'sections, by reasons of the notches Il which cut out the corners, and the upper header 9 has its sides spaced from the walls ofthe casing I as shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, so -that the upwardly moving current of air is held against the sides of this upper header. The transverse width of the lower header I2 is substantially less than the transverse width of the upper header 9, as the' 1. In a hot air heating apparatus, the combination of a plurality of substantially flat hollow sections spaced apart allel vertical planes, an inta e header closed at one end and open at-the other and extending continuously from end to end and supported on the. upper edges of said hollow sections, a combustion chamber entirely outside of the sections and communicating with the interior of sald header. at the open end of the latter, so that the hot gases and products of combustion are forced downwardly through said. hollow sections, the,

latter each having an inlet at the upper edge I' thereof. with slots communicatingwith each inis fastened tothe said vertical flat members.

u the hollow sectionsy andv around said upper 4 let at the bottom of the header, and with thehorizontal axis of the'int'ake header substantial- .ly above the upper edges of the sections, a lower or outlet' header extending continuously from end to end and disposed horizontally and provided with slots in communication with openings in the lower edges of said hollow sections, the sections being eachseparately formed and rigidly qspaced apart by their edgewise attachment with said,headers, and. means for forcing cold air upwardly past said lower header and between nd disposed in parheader, the latter' extending a substantial distance above the upper edges of the hollow sections to provide a relatively large heat radiating and air defiecting surface of maximum temperature.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said upper header being substantially cylindrical except for its bottom portion, which latter. is V-shaped to fit the V-shaped notches formed in the upper edges of the hollow sections, holding the header against rotary displacement during the assembly thereof, and deflecting and dividing the air equally. i

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said lower or outlet header being set into notches formed in the lower corners of the hollow sections, the latter having lower edges which are disposed a substantial distance above the bottom of said outlet header.

4. A structureas specified in claim 1, each hollow section comprising a pair of flat and substantially rectangular plates fastened together and sealed at their edges, so that vthe space between the two plates forms a down draft nue for the y burner, and the hot gases and products of combustion then passing from the open end of said combustion chamber into the adjacent open end of the upper' header, means at the inner side of the heat absorption unit to form a vchamber for said burner, and a casing providing space directly below said burner for a fan 'or blower for the incoming cold air.

7. A structure as specified in claim 1, said upper header being substantially cylindrical and being set into engaging upper edges of the hollow secv tions.

8. A structure as specified in claim 1, said lower or outlet header being set into notches formed in the lower corners or bottom edges of the hollow sections, the latter having lower edges which are disposed a substantial distance above the bottom of said outlet header.

9. A structure as specified in claim l, comprising a burner disposed preferably directly below said combustion chamber, the latter receiving the flame of the burner, and the hot gases and products of combustion then passing from the open end of said combustion chamber into the adjacent open end of the upper header.

l0. A structure as specified in claim 1, com` prising a burner disposed preferably directly below said combustion chamber, the latter receiving the flame of the burner, and the hot gases and products of combustion then passing from the open endA of said combustion chamber into the adjacent open end of the upper header, means at the inner side of the heat absorption unit to form a chamber for said bin'ner, and a casing providing space directly below said burner for a fan or blower for the incoming cold air.

`11. A heat exchange unit comprising substantially dat hollow sections spaced apart andrdisposed in parallel planes, an inlet header entirely outside and engaging the hollow sectionsat one edge thereof, so that athe header is in communication with the interior of each hollow section,

but said sections forming no part of either header, the latter being complete before being attached to said sections, and an outlet header parallel with said other header and engaging another edge of each hollow section, so that fluid may pass from said first-mentioned header and through practically the entire length of each hollow section before escaping into said outlet header, the transverse width of each header being less than the width of the sections, with the width of the, inlet headersubstantially greater than the width of the outlet header, each section beingseparably formed and entirely unconnected with anything else before said headers are applied thereto, and the sections being thus rigidly spaced apart by their attachment to said headers, the two headers each complete in itself forming the only means for rigidly connecting together the hollow sections, and the unit thus formed by the sections and the two headers being supported in a fluid receiving and discharging enclosure, with the sides of the inlet header spaced from the sides of the enclosure.

12. A structure as specifiedin claim-11, said first-mentioned header being substantially cylindrlcal and being set into engaging edges of the hollow sections.

13. A structure as specied in claim 11, said outlet header being only partially set into the corner of said hollow sections, by notching out the corner, leaving the major portion of said outlet header outside the area of the sections, so that this header bulges away from the outer edges of the sections.

14. A structure as specified in claim 11, comprising means for forcing heated iiuid into said inlet header, and means for forcing unheated fluid between the hollow sections and around the inlet header.

l5. A structure as specified in claim 11, saidl inlet header being'located centrally of the heat exchange unit, but said outlet header being offset to one side of said-unit, by notching out the corner, leaving the major portion of said outlet header outside the area of the sections, so that this .header bulges away from the outer edges of the sections.v

16. A structure as specified in claim 1l, said outlet header being set into the corners or on bottom edges of said hollow sections, by notching out the corner, leaving the major portion of said outlet header outside the area of the sections, so that this header bulges away from the outer edgesvof the sections.

17. A structure as speciiied in claim li, said inlet header being located centrally of the heat exchange unit, but said nntiet header being placed at any desired point en the lower end of the sections, by notching out the corner, leaving the major portion of said outlet header outside the area of thesections, so that vthis header bulges away from the outer edges of the sections.

m fiat hollow members spaced apart to prevent any interengagement between them and having their upper edges provided with inlets adapted to resister with said slots, when the complete and separately formed header is placed upon'said members, the edges ofthe slots being welded to 'the edges of said inlets, the lower portions of said members having outlets, a horizontal bottom header having spaced lateral inlets registering with and having 'their edges welded to the edges of said outlets, said bottom header having an outlet and having an imperforate under side, and means for supplying air upwardly between said members and over the sides and top of said top header, the transverse width of theoutlet header being substantially less than the width of the inlet header, means for holding the cur-- projecting ilame and products of combustion upwardly into the same, and a blower below said casing, a burner immediately below said fire pot,

the closed end of said re pot, so that the cold air passes downwardly behind the iire pot and i burner to said blower.

20.'A structure as specified in claim 18, saidl top header being V-shaped on its bottom and said members having V-shaped notches engaging the bottom of said top header, so that the top header is easily centered for attachment to said members', but said members forming no part of either header. l

21. A structure as specied in claim 18, said top header being V-shaped on its bottom and said members having Vshaped notches engaging the bottom of said top header, so that the top header is easily centered for attachment to said members, and said members having their lower ends formed with notches forming outlets engaging said bottom header, but said members forming no part of either header.

22. A structure as specified in claim 18, said members each comprising a pair of plates spaced apart and having their parallel rlat walls welded together` at their meeting edges.

PETER FRANTZ. 

